Air Force vs. BYU

Once again thanks to my wife's connections with the Denver Pipe Band and the Bennett School of Irish Dance, we were fortunate enough to get field passes to the Air Force/BYU game. Each year, several of the area's pipe bands and Irish dance schools get to perform at halftime with the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps. Since Cynthia had injured her back recently, she opted to help me photograph the event rather than dance. Kent Burns, who plays the bass drum for the City of Denver Pipe Band and El Jebel Shrine Band as well as being retired Army, coordinates the event in addition to getting me full access to the stadium for the day. He was able to secure an extra press pass this year for Cynthia so she could run around with me on the field. Thanks Ken for everything you do each year! Your hard work always pays off in an amazing halftime show.

We showed up early to get photos of the cadets and various performers rehearsing the show. It is really incredible when you consider that all these groups only have that morning to rehearse the performance.

Here is our fearless leader...






Here are some photos from the morning rehearsal...

Mary looking fabulous as always...Other groups were also getting warmed up for the day.

Air force parachuters...

The dance team...Cheerleaders...The Bird even broke out his ATV with the spinners...The Bird knows that the ladies always go for a cool ride.


Of course, there is alway somebody who thinks they know how to take pictures too...or someone who thinks playing a musical instrument is easy.
Some of the younger dancers took the opportunity to meet some of the Air Force cheerleaders...We moved into the stadium as the game was getting ready to start. It is always great to see how enthusiastic the cadets are during the game. You don't get any of the stupid college kid behavior you sometimes see at a non-military school. It makes you very optomistic for the future of our country. These young men and women are a truly inspiring group of people. As someone who spent 12 years wearing the Air Force uniform, I am really proud of what I see every year at the Air Force Academy.The halftime show was a great success as always.We had a blast taking pictures during the rest of the game.

It's alway a great experience at the Air Force Academy. Thanks to all of you who put so much effort into the day. I am already looking forward to next year.

Anyone interested in viewing/purchasing any of the photos from the event can go to my http://airforceshow2008.weddingherald.com/ . You can go to http://lonestarphoto.photoshop.com/ if you just want to see a slideshow of all the pictures.

M.

Cynthia's Birthday!

Early this morning, my wife completed yet another trip around the sun. I have been truly blessed to have known her for the last four trips, and married to her for the last two. In addition to being the most amazing wife you could ask for, she is also and incredible step-mother. For those of you who know me, you can appreciate how important that has been for the last few years, and how much it has meant for my children. I think my oldest boy summed it up the best when he wrote in her birthday card today... "thanks for not being the kind of step mother who keeps us from going to the royal ball".

We both took the day off together to enjoy her birthday, but I guess it is a sign of the times when you have to spend the first half of that special day running errands. First, we had to get Cristian to the driver's license office to finally take his driving test (he passed), then we had to go pick up some lenses I rented for tommorrow's Air Force/BYU game. From there, we went to Fed Ex to ship off one of my Canon camera bodies that decided to stop working.

Finally, we were able to enjoy a nice lunch together and do some shopping. In a few minutes, we will leave to see the new James Bond movie with my kids and her parents before heading to Cold Stone for some ice cream.

As a photographer, I communicate better with pictures than with words, so here are some of my favorite memories of the last four years...

She gave me these pictures when we first met so I wouldn't forget how beautiful she is when we were apart...

Picture my father took of us when he first met Cynthia.

Hanging out with some friends on the 16th St. Mall before a show (she's an Irish dancer).



Trip we took to Glenwood Springs/Sunlight Mountain

Studio picture....(did I mention she's an Irish dancer?)

One of our engagement photos

Our wedding at Arrowhead Golf Course

There are many more wonderful moments... honeymoon in Maui, vacations to Texas and California to name a couple, but I just didn't have time to find all of those photo CD's in the short time I have to get this blog done (she doesn't know I'm down here writing this). Suffice it to say that this is a very small sampling of the incredible life she gives me on a daily basis.

Happy Birthday my love, thank you for all the happiness you bring me and the boys. I hope you enjoy your special day. Love, Me